Apparatus for packing



E. K. BUXBAUM APPARATUS FOR PACKING Aug. 25, 1942.

Filed Aug. 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 25, 1942. E. K. BUXBAUM APPARATUS FOR PACKING Filed Aug. 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fine/W2; WA Mje 60(5):

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [yaw/2: 5M2 MB PM I.

Aug. 25, 1942. E. K. BUXBAUM APPARATUS FOR I ACKING Filed Aug. 6, 1941 Aug. 25, 1942. E. K. BUXBAUM 2,294,275

' APPARATUS FOR PACKING 4 Filed Aug. 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Kug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATS Aren't OFFICE Application August 6, 1941, Serial No. 405,632 In Great Britain June 24, 1940 14 Claims.

This invention relates to the packing of goods, and more particularly yielding or pourable goods of a granular or comminuted nature and fragile articles such as biscuits and the like, in preformed open containers made of flimsy material such as thin sheet cellulose acetate, metal foil and thin waxed paper. The invention has for its object to enable such packing to be effected mechanically in a continuous and expeditious manner inclusive of the closing and sealing of the containers.

According to the invention, containers of the kind referred to are severally supported in rigid cups of smaller height than the containers and of internal dimensions corresponding substantially to the outsid dimensions of the finished packages and are carried successively by a conveyor past mechanical filling means and means coacting with said cups for folding and sealing the portions thereof extending above the side walls of said cups.

According to a further feature of the invention, the said conveyor is arranged to discharge the finished packages from said supporting cups by gravity.

According to a further feature of the invention, said supporting cups are detachably secured to said conveyor in spaced relation to each other, for the purpose of enabling a set of such cups to be replaced by a set of cups of a different size, thus enabling different sized units to be packed with one and the same plant.

In carrying the invention into effect, an endless belt or chain type conveyor having rigid supporting cups detachably secured thereto at fixed centre-to-centre intervals may conveniently be associated with the apparatus for the production of open containers from flimsy sheet material described in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 402,957, filed July 18, 1941, the conveyor being operated intermittently and synchronously with intervals between the cycles of operation of said apparatus so that the containers produced are deposited one by one into consecutive supporting cups.

The mechanical filling means, which accordingly require to be operated in intervals between the intermittent operations of the conveyor, may be of any known construction suitable to the na ture of the goods to be packed. When the goods to be packed are biscuits or like articles, for which the invention is particularly well suited, the filling means may with advantage comprise one or more of the pneumatic handling units described in my co-pending patent application Serial No.

402,957, filed July 18, 1941, these units being likewise adjusted so as to operate in synchronism porting cups and to cooperate on the picking up side with a corresponding number of interchangeable feeding units located severally in alignment with the said stations and operated in unison and synchronously with the cycles of operation of the pneumatic handling units. In this way the filling is effected by increments of one biscuit at each station and the number of biscuits comprised in each finished package is determined by the number of said feeding and handling units employed. A suitable form of construction of such feeding units and of mechanism for their operation in co-operative association with the respective pneumatic handling units is also described and shown in the specification of my said co-pending patent application Serial No. 402,957, filed the 18th day of July, 1941.

It will be understood that with my improved packaging plant, when adapted and employed for the packaging of biscuits for which it is primarily but not exclusively intended to be used, the size of the packets of biscuits turned out and/ or the number of biscuits comprised in each packet may be altered as required, or to suit the kind of biscuit handled, by changing the set of supporting cups on the conveyor, altering if necessary the number of feeding and pneumatic transferring units operated at consecutive filling stations, and effecting such readjustment of moving parts of the apparatus as may be required to allow for any change in the height of the finished packet. The number of biscuits that can be comprised in each packet turned out in plant of the kind herein described is limited only by the number of filling stations provided and the extent to which the moving parts, particularly of the closing and sealing means can be readjusted for the purpose indicated.

Finally, the filled containers in their respective supporting cups pass on to closing and sealing means which coact with the cups in the sense that they act upon the unsupported projecting portions of the containers while the filled portions thereof are firmly held fast between the inner surface of the cups on the one hand and the goods deposited in the containers, on the other hand.

The invention thus further comprises a method of and means for turning out complete and sealed packets containing goods of the nature specified, mechanically and continuously, whereby open containers are mechanically produced from flimsy sheet material, deposited severally into consecutive spaced supporting cups carried by an intermittently operated conveyor, subsequently filled substantially to the level of the upper edge of said supporting cups, closed and sealed with the aid of means coacting with said cups, and finally discharged from said cups.

According to a further feature of the invention, means are provided for positively retaining the empty open containers in their respective supporting cups so that they are less liable to become dislodged by external influences, during at least an' initialportion of the period that elapses between their deposition into the supporting cups and the commencement of the filling operation or operations.

Ina preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the supporting cups and containers are basically of substantially rectangular shape and the containers are made of heat sealable material such as cellulose acetate or aderivative thereof, the closing and sealing of the filled containers is effected in four stages (two for closing and two forsealing) with the aid of means or sets of means covering three successive stands (stations) along the upper run of the conveyor situated subsequent to the filling stations in the direction of travel.

The first of these sets comprises two tucker members adapted to tuck in the two opposite sides of the projecting or unsupported portion of the container which-extend transversely of the direction of movement of the conveyor, laying one over the other and causing the other two sides of this portion to form upstanding ears of substantially triangular shape. This stage is effected partly while the cup is stationary at the first of the said three stations and partly While it is travelling from this station to the next. To this end, one of the tucker members is pivotally mounted above the conveyor track and is adapted to be swung down in the rear of the passing cup as it approaches this station, thereby engaging and tucking in the rear of the said two sides of the projecting portion of the container. This swinging tucker member is so shaped and positioned and operated, that while the cup is at rest at this station, it completes the tucking in of the said side and then holds it down approximately on a level with the upper edge of the supporting cup until the conveyor is advanced again. The pivoted tucking member is then swung up again, clear of the path of the oncoming container, while the other of the said two sides is folded down on to the first by the second tucker member as the cup moves away from the first of the close-and-seal stations. This latter tucker member takes the form of a flat plate or skeleton frame of an over-all width somewhat less than the corresponding width of the cup cavity, and is fixedly secured in a horizontal position and at such a level above the conveyor that the supporting cups can pass beneath it with slight clearance. The rear, engaging edge of the fixed tucker member is so positioned that it does the work of folding this side of the projecting portion of the container over the opposite side previously folded in by the swinging tucker member, in a passive manner, during the initial portion of the movement of the cup away from the first of the three close-and-seal stations. In order to ensure the faultless and reliable performance of the described two tucking operations and the proper formation of the two upstanding ears, means comprising suction heads having their intake apertures disposed closely adjacent the paths of the two non-tucked sides of the projecting walls of the container, are provided for the purpose of positively holding up these sides and preventing them from collapsing or otherwise becoming deformed during the complete tucking in of one of the transverse sides and by the swinging tucking member and partial tucking in of the other transverse side of the projecting portion of the container walls by the fixed tucker member, while the supporting cup is just coming into position at the first of the said three stations. The vacuum supply to the said suction heads is so controlled that suction is applied as the supporting cup comes to rest at this station and is cut off again before the cup moves on.

During the remainder of the movement of the supportion cup into the second of the said three stations, a forward extension of the fixed tucker member irons down the previously tucked in and now overlapping portions of the container walls and prevents them from rising before the next station is reached.

It is to be noted that the terms forward and rear as used in the present description are to be understood as having reference to the direction of movement of the conveyor.

At the second of the said three stations, the previously tucked in and now overlapping side portions of the container are sealed to each other with the aid of a vertically movable heating die. This sealing die is longitudinally recessed on the under side for the accommodation of a fixed strip-shaped holding down member which is substantially on a level with the passive tucker member aforesaid and serves to take over from the latter the function of preventing the overlapping inturned side portions of the container from rising before they are safely sealed down. This member is thus straddled by the initial sealing die which may conveniently be operated by cam action and is set down on the top of the packet for a short time while the cup and container are at rest.

In the third stage, the two ears are then folded in over each other (after having passed externally of the intermediate sealing die which is made sufiiciently narrow for this purpose) by means of forwardly converging elements supported horizontally and slightly above the level of the top of the supporting cup on either side of the path of the cups on their way from the second to the third of the finishing stations, these elements being spaced sufficiently widely apart at the rear to ensure that the ears will be engaged between them and converging at a point short of the third finishing station in the direction of travel of the conveyor. In the present instance, these converging elements consist of relatively thin rods attached to and forming continuations of the sides of an angular notch in a plate mounted at such a level above the conveyor that the cups pass beneath it with slight clearance and at such a point longitudinally of the machine that the apex of the said notch is substantially to the rear of the rear edge of the supporting cup when in the third of the finishing stations. It will be clear that as a supporting cup and its contents travels through this section of its path, the upstanding ears Will be engaged and folded inwardly over each other. In order to ensure that the two ears shall not foul each other but be folded inwards one after the other, the described converging folding elements are mounted slightly asymmetrically with respect to the centre line' of the path of the conveyor. The notched plate carrying the said converging arms is extended forwardly for such a distance that it remains in contact with and holds down the inturned and overlapped ears until just before the cup comes to rest at the last of the three finishing stations. Thus the third of the above-mentioned stages is completed, and the fourth, comprising the sealing down of the two "ears is then effected While the cup is at the third and last of the finishing stations.

Here a suitably heated sealing die, which is vertically movable but normally held poised with its plane under surface slightly above the level of the top of the closed container in its supporting cup, is set down for a brief period on the packet immediately after this latter has been moved clear from beneath the said notched plate and its extension, and has come to rest at the third finishing station. In this way the ears are effectually sealed down and the cycle of packaging operations is thereby completed.

After leaving the final station, the filled, closed and sealed packet is discharged from the supporting cup by gravity, as the cup is inverted in travelling round the end sprocket of the conveyor, and allowed to drop into a receiver or onto a delivering conveyor.

A form of construction of this embodiment of the invention is shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the layout of the complete packaging plant according to the invention, in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the portion of the plant which comprises the last three stations along the upper rim of the conveyor and the tucking, folding and sealing means associated therewith.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a similar section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows in longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, one of the supporting cups and means associated therewith, located at the first station on the upper rim of the conveyor, for

positively retaining a container deposited therein while the cup is at rest at this station.

In cases in which the goods packed will not readily withstand the heat of the sealing die, a disc of insulating material, such as cardboard, may be inserted in the packet after the filling operation and if desired with the aid of similar means, before the filled containers pass to the closing and sealing means.

Referrin first to Figure 1, a conveyor comprising two spaced chains I, travelling round pairs of end sprockets 2, 3, and carrying a series of open cups 4 (in the present instance sixteen) spaced equidistantly, is driven intermittently in one direction, as indicated by the arrows, through a distance equal to the centre-to-centre spacing of the cups 4, so that at each movement of the conveyor each cup comes into the position previousl; occupied by the preceding cup. The required intermittent motion may be obtained in any suitable manner; in the present instance a Geneva cross 5 is keyed to the shaft to the end sprockets 2 and co-acts with a cam disc 6 carrying a driving pin 1 and driven through reduction gearing 8 by an electromotor 9. The cups 4 are detachably secured by central screw [0 to plates l I attached to the conveyor chains I (see Figure 6), so they may be readily replaced by an alternative set of cups on a different side. The sprocket wheels 2 and 3 are of such diameter relatively to the spacing of the cups and the length of the step-wise movements of the conveyor, that at each interval between these movements the cups are symmetrically distributed over the upper and lower runs of the conveyor and each movement carries a cup completely round from one round to the other at each end. There are thus, after each operation of the conveyor, eight cups occupying identical positions along the upper run thereof, and these positions correspond to eight stations occupied by sets of mechanism forming, filling, closing and sealing containers which are severally deposited in and carried by said cups. Starting from the right hand side these eight stations are denoted by I to VIII.

Station I is occupied by mechanism, denoted generally by A, for forming an open container l2 from transparent flimsy material such as thin sheet cellulose acetate and depositing it in the cup located for the time being at that station. In the present example the mechanism employed for this purpose is of the kind described in my co-pending application Serial No. 402,957, filed July 18, 1941, and is therefore indicated digrammatically in Figure 1.

Station II is occupied by mechanism 13 for depositing a label in the bottom of the empty container so as to be visible from the outside in the finished package. The mechanism employed for this purpose is of the kind described in my copending application Serial No. 402,957, filed July 18, 19.41, and is therefore likewise indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1.

Stations III and IV are occupied by identical units designed to deposit one biscuit or the like each in the containers supported in the cups while arrested on these stations, it being understood that each cup as it travels on from station V carries within it an open container having a label and three biscuits stacked therein. The units B are of the kind disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 402,957, filed July 18, 1941, and need not therefore be described in detail in the present specification.

The remaining three stations VI, VII and VIII are those occupied by the closing and sealing mechanism of which a general description has already been given, The movements of the sets of mechanism by which the closing and sealing operations are performed as well as those of the various units A, B and C are derived from cams keyed to a master cam shaft 42 extending throughout the length of the packing plant, beneath the conveyor l and is supported at intervals in bearings I l and driven, through the i" termediary of gearing 13 from the electromotor 8.

As already mentioned, the open container 52 is intially of a height suitably greater than the depth of the cavity of the cup 4, the latter being so dimensioned that the goods placed in the container (in the present instance three biscuits) fetch the container substantially up to the level portion 11 and sides l8, l8, the back and bottom portions being at right angles to each other, is attached to an arm I9 secured centrally to a shaft 29, which is supported "in bearing brackets 2|, 2! so that it extends across the track of the conveyor I slightly to the rear of the central transverse plane of station 6. A crank arm 22 attached to one end of shaft 20 is articulated to the end of a push rod 22, the lower end of which is connected to a'rocking lever 23 operated by a cam disc 24 on the shaft 42. The cam disc 24 has a peripheral cam 25 which is so shaped as to bring the active tucker member l5 once in I the course of a revolution of the cam shaft 42,

from the elevated position in which it is shown in Figure 3, in which position its lower corner clears the top of the oncoming open container during each movement of the conveyor I, into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 in which its back portion 16 is substantially vertical and its bottom portion ll substantially horizontal, to retain the tucker member [5 in the depressed position until the commencement of the next movement of the conveyor l, and then to return the tucker member l5 rapidly into the elevated position.

At the point intermediately between station VI and VII a bridge 26 extending across the track of the conveyor I, is supported on brackets 21, 27 erected on the framework of the machine and carries by means of depending rods 28, 28 a passive tucker member 29 which consists in the present instance of a rod bent into the shape of a hairpin and extending longitudinally of the machine at a level slightly above that of the upper edge of the supporting cups 4. The curved rear end of the tucker member 29 terminates at a point slightly to the rear of the plane of the foremost side of the container l2 when arrested at station VI, so that it indents this side of the projecting portion of the container during a final fraction of its movement into this station. Likewise attached to the bridge 26 are two tubular members 39, 39 which extend downwards from the bridge to the level of approximately the level of the middle of the projecting portion of the container [2 and then extend horizontally, with a spacing substantially greater than the overall width of the supporting cup 4, rearwardly as far as the central plane of station VI where they are inwardly turned and fitted with suction heads 3|, 3| having their suction faces spaced slightly further apart than the width of the unsupported projecting portion of the container 1 2. The tubular holders 39, 39 are connected through the bridge 26 to fittings 32, 32 for connection to lengths of hose 33 communicating with a pipe 34 communicating through a rotary valve 35 with a vacuum main 36. The plug of valve 35 is operated in any suitable manner, for instance by cam on cam shaft 42, and linkage, so as to connect suction heads 35 to vacuum at the same time as the supporting cup 4 comes to rest at station VI and cuts the vacuum off again immediately before the cup begins to move on from this station to the next.

In operation, immediately after a cup 4 has come to rest at station VI and the foremost side of the projecting portion of the container has been slightly indented by the rear end of the passive tucker member 29, and while the longitudinal side portions are being held up by the vacuum applied through the suction heads 3|, 3|, the cam 25 lifts rod 22 and brings the active tucker member l5 down into engagement with the rear transverse projecting portion of the container and tucks in completely so that it is substantially in contact with the top of the stack of biscuits in the container and holds it there until the cup 4 has then commenced to move forward again. Through the first part of this forward movement of the cup, before the depressed rear transverse side of the projecting portion of the container has had time to spring up, the rear end of the passive tucker member 29 completes the depression of the forward transverse side of the container and lifts this side over the previously depressed side. At the same time the active tucker member 45 is raised into the elevated position so as to clear the top of the oncoming container. During the remainder of the movement of the cup from station VI to station VII the overlapping depressed sides of the container are ironed down by the side limbs of the tucker member 29 which are extended forwardly to the bridge 26 to a point slightly to the rear of the position occupied by the rear edge of the cup 4 when at station VII. The side limbs of the passive tucker member 29 are substantially parallel and so spaced that they fit snugly between the two triangular cars into which the longitudinal sides of the projecting portion of the container have become formed by the tucking operations and which are thus caused to remain upright. Disposed in the transverse axis of station VII is a horizontal arm 31 attached to the upper end of a plunger rod 38 and guided for vertical movement in a bracket 39 in the framework of the machine, with the aid of a depending guide rod 49 attached to a rearward extension of the arm 31 and working in a guideway in the bracket 39. Attached to the outer end of arm 31 by means of a depending stem 4! is an electrically heated die member 43 (see Figure 4). The head portion of the die 43 contains an electric heated element (not shown), which is preferably electrostatically controlled for the maintenance of an optimum temperature and its lower working face is recessed as at 44 for a purpose to be described in due course. The lower end of the plunger rod 38 cooperates with a rocking lever 45 guided by a cam disc 46 on the cam shaft 42 which is so shaped as to lower the arm 3'! and die 43 from a normal poised position slightly above the level of the top of the supporting cup 4 into a sealing position contacting the top of the seam closed packet in the cup, and to retain it in this position for a short space of time and then to raise it into the poised position again. The outside dimensions of the working surface of the die 43 are such that it fits within the contour of the cavity of the cup 4.

Intermediately between stations VII and VIII is mounted, in a manner similar to that of bridge 26, a further bridge 41, which carries depending from it at a level slightly above that of the upper edge of the cup 4, a notched plate 48 having a forward extension 48a reaching to a point slightly to the rear edge of the supporting cup 4 when arrested at station VIII. Attached to the rear edge of plate 48 so as to form continuations of the edges of the notch in this plate are rods 49, 49 which extend substantially beyond the vertical edge of the sealing die 43. The angle at the apex of the notch 48 and subtended by the rods 49, 49 is such that the free ends of the rods 49, 49 are spaced apart as far as the tips of the triangular ears of the container would reach if these cars were folded down at right angles to the top of the cup. The ears are thus bound to be engaged by the converging rods 49, 49 while the cup is travelling between stations VII and VIII. In order to ensure the ears shall be folded one over the other and prevented from being collapsed one against the other while being folded inwards, the sides of the notch in plate 48 and the rods 49, 49 are disposed slightly asymmetrically with respect to the plane of the machine so that one ear is folded in slightly in advance of the other. The forward extension 490. ensures inwardly folded ears shall remain held down until station A is reached. Attached to the middle of the rearward portion of bridge 4'! is a fiat strip 50 of rigid material which is curved downwardly (see Figure 3) and terminates in a horizontal rear end portion 50a which is accommodated in the recess 44 in the preliminary sealing die 43 and extends substantially up to the rear edge of the cup 4 when in station VII, where it stops short of the forward end of the passive tucker member 29 and on a level therewith. This portion 5011 thus serves to take over from the forward extension of member 29 the work of holding down the intially depressed sides of the projecting portion of the container, and keeps them held until they have been sealed together by the die 43.

At station VIII a final sealing die i is suspended and operated in a manner similar to that of die 43. For this purpose it is attached to an arm 52 carried by a plunger rod 53 and guided by a rod 54 in a bracket 55 attached to the framework of the machine and is operated by a cam disc 56 on cam shaft 42, operating on a rocking lever 51. The working surface of the sealing die 5! is plane (see Figure 5) and the outside dimensions are similar to those of die 43.

The operation of the final sealing die 5! completes the series of closing and sealing operations performed during the travel of the supporting cup past stations VI, VII, and VIII.

After leaving station VIII, the supporting cup travels completely round the end sprockets 2, as already described, and this brings the cup into an inverted position and tips the completed packet out of the cup.

In the present example, the packets discharged from the main conveyor I, drop on to a delivering conveyor of known type composed of three endless belts 58, 59, 58a (Figure 1) whereby they are delivered at a convenient level for further handling, for instance packing in layer containers for storage or transit.

As already mentioned, I have found it desirable to provide means for holding the empty containers in their respective supporting cups, at least for a time after they have been deposited therein by the forming unit A, since otherwise, particularly when they are made of very thin and light material, the empty containers are apt to become dislodged by the air pressure due to the movement of the conveyor, particularly when shallow cups are being used, i. e., when the plant is being used to turn out packets of relatively small height.

A simple and effective expedient for this purpose is shown in Figure 6. A small suction box 60 having a narrow slot mouth 6| bordered by a surface packing element 62, for instance of rubber, is mounted between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor l, directly beneath the station I at such a level that the supporting cup carrying plates ll make brushing contact with the packing element 62 as they come into position at this station. The central screw ID, by which each cup 4 is secured to its carrying plate II is drilled with a small axial channel 63 communicating with a port 64 in the plate II which registers with the slot 6 I. A pipe 65 connects the suction box 60 to the vacuum main 36. In the present instance the suction box slot 6| extends substantially through the length of the plate II when at station I. In this case, the suction action at the orifice of the channel 63 comes into play during a final portion of the movement of the plate ll into station I, and is maintained as long as the cup remains stationary and while the container 12 is being deposited, and continues active thereby holding down the container l2 during an initial fraction of the movement of the supporting cup towards station II.

A similar suction box may be provided if desired at stations II and III, so that the container is practically continuously held down until filling has commenced. Alternatively, the suction box 69 may be of reduced dimensions, if the length of the suction period can be sacrificed in the interests of economy of working. Thus, in the extreme case, the slot 6| may be reduced to a circular aperture registering with port 64 so as to hold down the container only at the moment of delivery and for the remainder of the time during which the supporting cup is stationary at station I.

It will be understood that any known type of mechanically operable filling means may be employed in lieu of the units B, it being merely essential that they deliver a predetermined quantity of the goods to be packed, into successive containers supported in the cups 4, at one or more stations along the conveyor I intermediately between the point at which the containers are deposited in the cups and the first of the stations occupied by theclosing and sealing means (stations VI to VIII in the present example). It will also be understood that a larger number of individual filling units B than the three shown may be provided, so that a larger number of pieces may be packed when required, the superfluous units being disconnected from their drive, or otherwise rendered inoperative, when a smaller number of pieces are to be packed.

By using suitably deviced and positioned adhesive dispensing means, for instance associated with the tucker and folding members, or by substituting a gummed label feeding and moistening device for the heater of the sealing die, the described arrangement may be utilised, with slight modifications, in conjunction with containers made of other than heat scalable material.

The supporting cups may be made of any suitable rigid material. I have found synthetic resin to be well suited to this purpose owing to its moulding qualities, light weight, and cleanness.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a packaging machine means for closing the mouth of the container upon the contained goods during step by step motion of said container through said machine, said closing means 'point of the machine at which said container is 'in'a position of rest in its step by step motion through said machine and adapted to fold down said rear mouth portion of the container while the same is at said first point in a position of rest, a first stationary folding member for foldin'g down the forward part of the container mouth, said first stationary folding member arranged in the path of said container after the same has moved from said first resting point and adaptedto fold down said forward mouth portion of the container while the same is passing from said first resting point to a second point at which it is also in a position of rest, a first sealing memher for sealing to each other said folded down rear and forward portions of said container mouth, said first sealing member arranged at said second resting point and adapted to carry out said sealing operation while the container is in a position of rest at said second resting point, second stationary folding members for folding down the side flaps of the container mouth, said second stationary folding members arranged in the path of said container after the same has moved from said second resting point and adapted to fold down said side flaps of the container mouth while the container is passing from said second resting point to a third point at which it is also in a position of rest, and a second sealing member for scaling to each other said folded down side flaps of said container mouth, said second sealing member arranged at said thirdresting point and adapted to carry out said sealing operation while the container is in a position of rest at said third resting point.

2 Closing means according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said first stationary folding member is constructed and arranged in such a manner as to engage and indent the forward portion of the container mouth already during the last fraction of the movement of said container into the position 'of rest at said first resting point at which said movable folding member operates.

3. In combination with closing means according to claim 1, suction devices for positively holding up said side flaps of the container mouth during the folding down of said rear and forward portions of said container mouth.

'4. Closing means according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said first stationary folding member is constructed and arranged in such a manner as to. hold. down the overlapping folded down rear and forward portions of the container mouth substantially until the container comes into a position of rest at said second resting point during its step by step motion.

5. Closing means according to claim 1, characterized by the. fact that said first stationary folding member consists of a rod bent into U-shape and arranged slightly above the level of the goods contained in the container to be closed.

6. Closing means according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said movable folding member comprises a box-shaped engaging element, an arm pivoted at a point above the path of the container to be closed and carrying said box-shaped engaging element, said arm being "turnable in the mid-longitudinal plane of the path of said container, and operating means for swinging said arm together with 'said engaging element down into a position in which it completely depresses the rear mouth portion of the container immediately after said container comes to rest at said first resting point and to swing said arm and engaging element up again, as the container starts to move on from this first point, into a position in which said arm and engaging element will clear the top of the next oncoming container.

7. In combination with the closing means claimed in claim 1, a stationary holding down member arranged in the path of the container to be closed and extending from between said second and third resting points rearwardly to a point near to and on a level with the forward end of the first stationary folding member for the purpose of holding down the rear and forward folded down overlapping mouth portions of the container until the sealing takes effect.

8. In combination with the closing means claimed in claim 1, a stationary holding down member made of strip material and arranged in the path of the container to be closed and extending from between said second and third resting points rearwardly to a point near to and on a level with the forward end of the first stationary folding member for the purpose of holding down th rear and forward folded down overlapping mouth portions of the container until the sealing takes effect, and recesses on the under side of said first sealing member extending in direction of the movement of said container for accommodating said holding down member during sealing operation.

9. In closing means of the type claimed in claim 1 for closing the mouth of containers made of heat sealable sheet material, said sealing means consisting of heated sealing dies normally poised above the level of the top of the containers to be sealed and adapted to be set down for a brief period onto the previously folded and overlapping mouth portions of the containers to be sealed.

10. In combination with closing means according to claim 1, suction devices for positively holding up said side flaps of the container mouth during the folding down of said rear and forward, portions of said container mouth, and controlling means automatically operated by movement of said container and adapted to connect said suction devices to a vacuum creating device during that period of time during which said rear and forward mouth portions are folded down.

11. In closing means according toclaim 1, said second stationary folding members for folding down the side flaps of the container mouth after sealing of the folded downfront and rearward portions of. the container mouth comprising a plate horizontally supported between said second resting point and said third resting point slightly above the level of the packaged goods, said plate having an angular notch in its rear, edge andbeing provided with rods attached to said plate at said rear edge, constituting continuations of the sides of said notch. and extending past the transverse plane of'said second resting point, so as to engage and inwardly fold the free portions of the side flaps of the container mouth in the course of travel of said container from, said sec.- ond resting point to said third resting point.

12. I-n-closing means according to claim 1,;said second stationary folding members for folding down the side flaps of the container mouth after sealing of the folded down front and rearward portions of the container mouth comprising a plate horizontally supported between said second resting point and said third resting point slightly above the level of the packaged goods, said plate having an angular notch in its rear edge and being provided with rods attached to said plate at said rear edge, constituting continuations of the sides of said notch and extending past the transverse plane of said second resting point, said notch and said rods being asymmetrically disposed with reference to the mid-longitudinal plane of the path of the containers, so as to cause one side flap of the container mouth to be folded down in advance of the other and prevent them from being crumpled one against the other when they are engaged and inwardly folded by said rods in the course of travel of said container from said second to said third resting point.

13. In a packaging machine, means for closing the mouth of the container upon the contained goods during step by step motion of said container through said machine, said closing means comprising a movable folding member for folding down one portion of the container mouth, said movable folding member arranged at a point of the machine at which said container is in a position of rest in its step by step motion and constructed so as to fold down said mouth portion of the container while the same is at said point in a position of rest, a stationary folding member for folding down another portion of the container mouth, said stationary folding member arranged in the path of said container after the same has moved from said resting point and constructed so as to fold down said other mouth portion of the container while the same is moving from said resting point to a consecutive resting point, and a sealing member for sealing to each other said folded down container mouth portions, said sealing member arranged at said consecutive resting point and constructed so as to carry out said sealing operation while the container is in a position of rest at said consecutive resting point.

14. In a packaging machine means for closing the mouth of the container upon the contained goods during step by step motion of said container through said machine, said closing means comprising a movable folding member for folding down the rear part of the container mouth, said movable folding member arranged at a point of the machine at which said container is in a position of rest in its step by step motion through said machine and constructed so as to fold down said rear mouth portion of the container While the same is at said point in a position of rest, a stationary folding member for folding down the forward part of the container mouth, said stationary folding member arranged in the path of said container after the same has moved from said resting point and constructed so as to fold down said forward mouth portion of the container While the same is passing from said resting point to a consecutive point at which it is also in a position of rest, and a sealing member for sealing to each other said folded down rear and forward portions of said container mouth, said sealing member arranged at said consecutive resting point and constructed so as to carry out said sealing operation while the container is in a position of rest at said consecutive resting point.

ERICH KARL BUXBAUM. 

